Report of the city of Somerville 1957, Part 17

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1957
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 320


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The Planning Board's 1957 work program included con- tinuing study of the urban renewal problems as they affected Ward I; highway studies, and traffic, circulation and off-street parking surveys. The zoning text was recast in more up to


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PLANNING BOARD


date form and submitted to the Board of Aldermen for their consideration.


URBAN RENEWAL STUDIES


In January, 1957, the Planning Director, Mr. Myer, invited Mr. Frank Batstone, planning official for HHFA to come to Somerville for the purpose of discussing the city's eligibility for a General Neighborhood Renewal Plan. Mr. Batstone felt that a GNRP would permit us to explore the renewal possibil- ities of the entire neighborhood and aid us in the ultimate solution of major planning problems. City officials, however, while realizing the desirability of fusing highway proposals with renewal planning, were in general agreement that lacking significant expression of the plans for the extension of Route 28 and the Belt Route, and their subsequent impact on the city, no substantial progress might be expected toward renewal until, at least, route approval was received and some knowledge of ramp interchanges was available.


A more intensive study of neighborhoods for the purposes. of identifying more concretely the blight problem will form part of the 1958 Work Plan. Studies leading to the develop- ment and maintenance of improved housing conditions and general living environment will be undertaken.


ZONING


No formal requests for changes in zone were received in. 1957. Continuing its zoning studies, however, the planning staff worked on a new form of the existing text to facilitate its use by the layman. The Planning Board maintained its statu- tory relationship to the Board of Appeal, to keep at a minimum decisions adversely affecting the long range plans for the city.


HIGHWAY PROPOSALS


The Planning office continued to study highway proposals, the director continued his liaison with the office of the State Department of Public Works to insure advance information concerning any of the proposals affecting Somerville, and spent considerable time in conference with other local planning di- rectors concerning the proposed location of highways.


The office continued in its advisory capacity to citizens af- fected by highway proposals. It is felt that residents of the


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ANNUAL REPORT


areas in question gained a measure of reassurance by dis- cussing the possibilities with members of the planning staff, viewing the maps and models in the office, and learning of the various steps to be taken by authorities before actual land tak- ing. Evidence of this confidence is expressed in the recurring visits of some of the residents from these areas.


In another area of public relations, Mrs. Ford and Mr. Myer continued to attend meetings of the Community Council Com- mittee for Renewal and of local neighborhood associations and worked with Cambridge agencies studying Somerville's prob- lems and their solution, as well as with students from the local universities working on planning or economic problems. It is believed that the time spent in orienting these students to the Somerville scene is well spent.


The Planning Board wishes to commend the loyalty and cooperative effort of the planning staff and to extend its sin- cere appreciation to Mayor Donovan, the Honorable Board of Aldermen and many others for their continued interest in and support of planning progress in Somerville.


Respectfully submitted,


ROBERT D. DONAHUE, Chairman THE SOMERVILLE PLANNING BOARD


WALTER J. MANNING Commissioner of Public Works


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ANNUAL REPORT


REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS


January 7, 1958.


Honorable William J. Donovan City Hall Somerville, Massachusetts


Dear Mayor Donovan:


I am pleased to submit the following report on activities of the Somerville Department of Public Works for the period from January 1, 1957 through December 31, 1957.


Our HIGHWAY DIVISION has performed its regular duties of snow plowing and removal, sanding, scraping, street sweep- ing and cleaning, tree removal, tree trimming and spraying, street and sidewalk repairs, edgestone repairs, construction of new driveways, and sidewalks both concrete and bituminous concrete, street painting and striping including crosswalks, silhouettes and warning signs. During January, February and March Highway Division trucks and crews worked with the Sanitary Division on collection of rubbish and performed many other duties such as Christmas tree removal, placing and main- taining sand boxes throughout the city and clearance of debris following storms. A partial tally of their accomplishments this year includes:


Installation of 167 new street signs. Installation of 53 Traffic regulatory signs.


Construction of 58 new driveways.


Construction of 5768 linear feet of concrete sidewalk.


Construction of 204 linear feet of bituminous concrete sidewalk. Topped 122 trees to stump level.


Removed 110 tree stumps.


Issued 149 permits to occupy sidewalk.


Issued 214 street opening permits to contractors and public utilities.


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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT


Cash receipts for sidewalk and driveway construction, etc .: $13,100.13.


Maintained and operated paint shop, repair shop and gasoline pumps.


Our WATER DIVISION performed its usual duties of maintaining the water system. This includes repair of leaks, thawing of pipes and meters, continuous maintenance of both high and low pressure systems, meter reading and water bill- ing. The Water Division, operating on a twenty-four hour basis, is vitally affected by weather conditions and major con- struction programs of all types. Included in its accomplish- ments are the following:


Excavated and repaired leaks at 445 locations. Performed major repairs or replacements on 64 hydrants. Installed 7 hydrant gate valves. Installed 34 sets of hydrant guards.


Cleaned out 140 gate boxes.


Repaired and repacked 37 main gate valves.


Performed major repairs to main pipe lines at 10 locations.


Removed 4 abandoned water posts.


Repaired and replaced 73 meters.


The ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT performed its usual duties of snow removal, cleaning of catch basins and storm drains, emergency clearing of blocked drains and sanitary sewers, repairing and rebuilding of storm drains and sewer mains, general maintenance and repair of parks, playgrounds, cemeteries and recreational facilities, including ice skating areas. The Engineering office is instrumental in developing and perfecting plans, in preparing detailed drawings and spec- ifications for bids and construction projects including surveys, layouts, grades, lines, inspection, drawings and plans for all types of city activities, for example:


The City acquired several parcels of land in the Magoun Square area for a municipal Parking Lot. Plans for the takings by Eminent Domain were made, preliminary plans and studies for the proposed parking lot were made followed by detailed' plans and specifications for bidding and construction.


Taking plans for land needed to relocate section of road- way in Homer Square were made and processed.


Field surveys and detailed plans, line drawings and pro- files for the street reconstruction program were prepared.


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ANNUAL REPORT


Plans and specifications covering road construction work on a unit price basis were prepared and advertised for bid. This contract was awarded to the low bidder, the National Contractors Co., Inc., for work to be performed during 1957.


The Engineering Division crews perform a variety of duties among which are noted:


The first three weeks of the year were spent entirely on snow plowing and removal.


After each snow storm the skating areas were cleared and flooded to afford the maximum amount of use.


The last snow storm of the year started Monday afternoon on April 8th and continued until noon on the following day causing extensive damage to small trees and shrubs and created a tremendous amount of work in our parks and play- grounds.


Immediately after the last snow storm a severe period of drought followed making it necessary to apply very heavy coatings of calcium chloride on all ball fields.


Park benches throughout the city were repaired and paint- ed and new benches installed at many locations.


A motor grader was hired to grade Trum Field and Conway Playground. The other playgrounds were graded with our own equipment. The fields were then raked free of stones and rolled with a power roller. All the grass areas in our parks were rolled and fertilized. Shrubs, trees and plants were pruned, fertilized and replaced if damaged during the winter.


A large area of Conway Playground bordering Somerville Avenue between the wading pool and basketball courts was graded, rolled and surfaced with bituminous concrete. A catch basin and drain were constructed to drain the area. This work eliminated an eyesore and maintaince problem and created a very desirable play area.


The grass area at the Northeastern Junior High School was turned over with a Roto-tiller, graded, fertilized and seeded. Retaining walls were built in the Bingham School and Burns School yards to eliminate dangerous holes in the play areas. New steps were built at a basement entrance to the Burns


287


PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT


School and at the rear entrance a large area was bricked in around a new door and window. Loose and missing bricks were replaced at the same time.


A new rotary mower was purchased to replace a 20-year old sickle bar which was not economical to repair. Concrete sand boxes were constructed at the Perry School, the Mystic Avenue Housing Project, Bailey Park and the Hodgkins School.


On January 24th the drainage construction work was re- sumed on the sixty streets to be rebuilt during 1957. A total of thirty-seven catch basins and one manhole were remodelled by the city forces during this period. Six new catch basins were built and in addition, nineteen new catch basins and three new manholes were built for the street program.


The trees on the sixty streets to be rebuilt by the City and the six streets to be rebuilt under the 1957 Chapter 90 pro- gram were inspected several times to determine which trees should be removed before the construction work started. These trees were then posted and the list was revised after the public hearings were held. Topping of the trees was started on Feb- ruary 27th. A total of 285 tree stumps were removed using hired equipment and city forces in preparation for street re- construction work and the construction of new driveways for residents.


In addition to the work previously described, the sewer crews performed the following maintenance work. Broken sewers were repaired at #20 Wesley Park and #16 Wallace Street. Broken drain connections were repaired on College Avenue at Talbot Avenue and on Wheatland Street at Mystic Avenue. A catch basin was rebuilt on Packard Avenue at Electric Avenue. A new manhole was built in Pearl Street at Hillside Avenue. New manhole rings and covers were placed on Walnut Street at Grand View Avenue, on Derby Street at Temple Street, and on Washington Street at Leland Street. Catch basin repairs were made at #24 Aberdeen Road, #52 Bonair Street, #117 Prospect Street, #75 Hinckley Street, Central Street at Browning Road, #620 Broadway, Richdale Avenue at Essex Street, Highland Avenue at Conwell Street, Kenneson Road at the Baltimore Post, Pennsylvania Avenue at Minnesota Avenue, Bartlett Street at Ames Street and #149 Lowell Street. A buried manhole was located and raised on Broadway near Alewife Brook Parkway.


288


ANNUAL REPORT


Under the maintenance program sewers were repaired on Moreland Street, Lowden Avenue, Bailey Road, Quincy Street, Somerville Avenue and Washington Street. New manholes were built at four locations: Lowell Street at Somerville Av- enue, end of West Street, end of Clifton Street and end of Newberne Street. Two manholes were raised to the surface in yards on either side of Laurel Terrace. A manhole at Winslow Avenue and Clifton Street was repaired. Four new manhole rings and covers were installed at #75 and #133 Highland Avenue, #161 Pearl Street and at Waterhouse Street and Vic- toria Street.


A new catch basin was built at the end of Clifton Street. Four catch basins were remodelled: #19 Charnwood Road, #22 Bonair Street, Shore Drive opposite Bailey Road and at Morrison Avenue and Pearson Avenue. Twenty-one catch basins were repaired: #76 Fremont Street, Cady Avenue and Simpson Avenue, Perkins Street and Pinckney Street, #70 Ten Hills Road, Concord Avenue, #9 Park Place, #39 Morrison Avenue, Marion Street and Wyatt Street, #62 Endicott Av- eune, # 19 Leonard Street, #57 Dane Street, #6 Oak Street, #11 Madison Street, Russell Street at the Nazarene Church, Springfield Street and Concord Avenue, #40 Highland Road, #90 Flint Street #8 and #9 Nevada Avenue and two in the Grimmons School yard. Three new traps were installed at Pearl Street and Wesley Street, Clark Street and at Temple Road and Bailey Road.


The Netco catch basin cleaning machine has been re- modeled to provide an adequate air pressure storage system and has greatly improved the efficiency of the machine. A former International Sanitary Division truck has been re- modelled to make a permanent patch resurfacing self-con- tained unit and is ready to go to work.


The "Lt. Francis W. O'Brien, Jr." Memorial Plaque has been permanently installed on a new island at the intersec- tion of Temple Street, Butler Drive and Memorial Road.


This division broke out the floors in seven school toilet rooms preparatory to the installation of new toilets and the areas in the front of the Hanscom School were surfaced with bituminous concrete.


The BUILDING DIVISION completed a tremendous num- ber of repair and maintenance assignments on our schools and


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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT


public buildings. This division faces a formidable task in main- taining boilers, heating and ventilating systems, plumbing, electrical installations and building maintenance items rang- ing from replacing sash, glazing, painting, locksmithing, clear- ing of rubbish and debris, carpentry work and metal-smithing down to moving furniture. In addition, they handle the setting up of polling places, erection of band stands, furnish folding chairs for all types of activities, set up special classrooms and prepare buildings for many school and civic functions. It would be completely impractical to attempt to list the maze of work orders completed by this busy division.


The Building Division office and inspectors handle items ranging from the condemnation of hazardous property to the rental of public buildings and the issuance of permits.


Following are a few tabulations for the year 1957:


587 building permits issued. 950 building inspections performed.


212 building complaints investigated. 1940 plumbing and gas permits issued.


2431 plumbing and gas inspections performed.


67 plumbing complaints investigated.


Cash receipts for licenses, permits and inspections $6,353.25


Our LIGHTS AND LINES DIVISION handled its normal ac- tivities of electrical inspection, maintenance and care of Police and Fire Signal Systems, Police and Fire Radio System, traffic light installations, all cable and underground work for above systems and the maintenance of parking meters and the col- lection of receipts. This division covers all fires of two alarms or more and carefully checks condition of electrical wiring fol- lowing floods, fires or accidents. This division is particularly active and are vitally affected by heavy construction work in progress throughout our city. In addition, they are charged with the responsibility of making immediate repairs to traffic signals, fire and police boxes, etc. when damaged by accidents. This has become a common occurrence with today's heavy traf- fic load on our streets. This division also patrols our off-street parking areas and maintain and operates field lighting installa- tions for night softball and basketball games.


Our SANITARY DIVISION. Following the death of Super- intendent John Meskell on December 26, 1956, your Com- missioner of Public Works was appointed acting Superintend- ent of the Sanitary Department and continued in this capacity


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ANNUAL REPORT


until March 28, 1957 when the Sanitary Department was in- corporated as a division of the Department of Public Works by action of the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen. Adver- tisements for new equipment to modernize the collection of rubbish and refuse were publicized on January 3rd and Jan- uary 10th with bids being opened on January 18, 1957. A careful on-the-job inspection of equipment offered by the various bidders was made with their demonstrator units manned by regular city crews actually collecting rubbish. The contract for furnishing twelve new units was awarded to the low bidder and resulted in our obtaining twelve 16 yard Gar Wood Loadpacker Bodies mounted on heavy duty International Chassis complete with all accessories including painting and lettering for the excellent price of $128,320.20 or $10,676.68 each. These new units have transformed the operation of this division. Ten of the old open trucks were traded in, and of the remainder 3 open trucks were retained by the Sanitary Di- vision and 4 were transferred to the Highway Division.


Following are collection tabulations compiled during the year 1957:


COLLECTIONS OF ASHES AND REFUSE


Loads


Yards


Tons


January


1632


18,432


2880


February


1660


19,840


3100


March


1520


18,320


2862


April


1450


17,600


2750


May


1400


17,072


2668


June


1420


17,280


2700


July


1460


17,680


2763


August


1500


18,080


2825


September


1524


18,368


2870


October


1590


19,082


2980


November


1600


19,184


2998


December


1620


19,392


3030


COLLECTIONS OF PAPER


Yards


Tons


January


6912


720


February


6160


630


March


5500


563


April


5136


525


May


4884


500


June


4988


510


July


5308


533


August


5428


555


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ANNUAL REPORT


September


5516


564


October


5840


598


November


5868


600


December


5984


612


A total of 6500 tons of garbage was collected during this period.


Rubbish and refuse is trucked in city owned vehicles to a dump in Medford operated by the Mystic Disposal Corpora- tion. Our present contract with this firm expires December 31, 1958.


Garbage is collected by a private contractor who furnishes trucks and drivers with the city furnishing collectors.


DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT


PERMANENT Shop Equipment and machinery to operate main Repair Shop, Lubritorium, and Garage Shops for Build- ing, Water and Lines and Lights Division.


PORTABLE EQUIPMENT


2 - Hough Payloaders.


2- Catch Basin Cleaning Machines.


2 - Sno-Go Loaders.


4 - Walter Snow Fighters.


4 - Street Sweeping Machines.


2 - Tractor Plows.


1 - Wrecker.


1


- Crane Truck.


2 - Hoist Rack Trucks.


13 - Dump Trucks.


12 - Load Packer Trucks.


2 - Open Rack Body Paper Trucks.


1 -- Open Rubbish Truck.


11 - Service Trucks.


11 - Pick Ups.


1 - Jeep.


2 - Power Wagons.


2 - Power Rollers ..


2 - Low Boy Trailers.


1 - Concrete Mixer.


2 - Sewer Cleaning Machines.


2 - Street Striping Machines.


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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT


8 - Power Lawn Mowers.


5 - Air Compressors.


14 - Pumps.


7 - Gasoline Chain Saws.


4 - Electric Chain Saws.


7 - Gasoline Driven Portable Generators.


In addition we have all types of hand tools, jacks, bars, floodlights, etc.


ROAD PROGRAM


During 1957 your Department carried to a successful com- pletion a giant road and sidewalk reconstruction program, which when it was announced, drew many comments of dis- belief on the question of its being completed in one year. A total of 63 streets were reconstructed.


The program was planned in order to insure a maximum utilization of an allocation of $219,983.37 received from the State under Chapter 718 Acts of 1956. This gave us an op- portunity to include many streets badly in need of reconstruc- tion or resurfacing that would never qualify for State Aid under Chapter 90. Chapter 718 funds were also used for the City's 25 per cent share of Chapter 90 work.


Work on the program, began in November of 1956, a week after announcement of the City's allocation, with submission of a request to the Board of Aldermen for a City contribution of $200,000.00 in the form of a ten-year bond issue, toward this capital improvement work. Department engineers went to work immediately preparing line drawings and necessary plans and data with the result that Somerville received a check in full for its State funds under Chapter 718 with the first State distribution in March, contributing much to the fact that the work was completed in time.


Involving close cooperation between contractors, men, equipment, and City employees, the operation was carried out in an assembly line manner, starting in East Somerville and going west across the City. Operations included drainage re- pairs, tree topping and stump removal, edgestone repair, new driveway and sidewalk construction, restoration of the original surface on sidewalks with temporary patches, and finally exca- vation, reshaping and resurfacing of the streets themselves.


Preparation work started in late winter and early spring and first actual street surfacing commenced on Foley Road April 16, 1957.


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ANNUAL REPORT


Much of the sidewalk, tree and drainage repair work was also done on streets not included in those entirely reconstruct- ed. In connection with this work a five-year bond issue of $100,000.00 was used.


Streets resurfaced or reconstructed under Chapter 718 and accompanying funds: (see accompanying list).


Nine streets from the original list, six of them in the Ten Hills-East Somerville sector, were omitted from the operation. Due to the continued uncertainty of the location of route 28 through this area it seemed unwise to expend funds on these streets, when they might be torn up again in a short time. They will be included in the Department's future work.


Also included in the 1957 operation were two private ways, Homer Square and Tannery Brook, for which, in accordance with the Private Way Bill, all materials were paid for by the abuttors. In the case of Tannery Brook material costs were borne by the Cambridge Gas Co., which was installing a new line through the city easement. Tannery Brook was the final street completed in the program last year.


The City was also allowed to handle the construction of streets approved by the State for 1957 Chapter 90 work, for which the State and County contributed $93,750.00. Permis- sion for City awarding of the contract and direction of the work was obtained from the State Department of Public Works.


The following listed streets were resurfaced under this combined program.


CHAPTER 90


Tufts Street Pearl Street (Artery to Franklin St.)


Bow Street Wheatland Street Cedar Street


Temple Street Chester Street Central Street School Street (Medford to Broadway)


Warner Street


PRIVATE


Homer Square


Tannery Brook


CHAPTER 718


Foley Road Union Street Wigglesworth Street Montgomery Avenue Wellington Avenue Calvin Street


Bowdoin Street Hawkins Street Carlton Street Durham Street


Morgan Street Packard Avenue


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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT


Dimick Street


Bigelow Street


Waldo Street Hammond Street Dickinson Street Bolton Street Perry Street Putnam Street


Grand View Avenue Pleasant Avenue Wesley Park Beach Streett Atherton Street


Cypress Street


Munroe Street Essex Street


Highland Road Peason Avenue


Stickney Avenue Sargent Avenue Grant Street


Vernon Street Hancock Street


Jaques Street


Wallace Street


Fenwick Street (Heath to Broadway)


Bay State Avenue


Brastow Avenue


Henry Avenue Howard Street


Burnside Avenue


Josephine Avenue Woodstock Street


Banks Street


Thorndike Street


Completion of this program caused considerable comment outside the City and was the subject of a flattering illustrated article and cover picture in the New England Construction Magazine.


PROSPECT HILL TOWER


Grounds in the area of the Prospect Hill Tower were fur- ther improved in conjunction with the Road Reconstruction Program. Work on Munroe Street which borders the Prospect Hill Tower included the installation of granite edgestone the full length of the tower grounds.


WATER BREAK


On July 26, 1957 at approximately 5:00 a.m. a disaster struck West Somerville in the form of a huge break in a four foot water main of the Metropolitan District Commission on Willow Avenue.


First on the scene were emergency crews from the Depart- ment of Public Works and Sewer Divisions. They immediately shut off all city service in the area, to cut down pressure on the water flow and then aided MDC crews in locating and shutting down gate valves on the lines involved in the break.


By morning approximately 150 men from the Department's various divisions were at work on the scene, helping to clean up debris, mud and muck in the eight street area affected, checking on the safety of residents, wiring and heating sys-


Lowden Avenue


Porter Street (Highland to Summer)


Rogers Avenue


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ANNUAL REPORT


tems, and pumping out all cellars that had been flooded. Other crews checked on the affect of the sudden deluge on city sewer and drainage lines and the extent of street and sidewalk un- dermining. They were aided in many of the tasks by MDC workmen, CD volunteers, and firemen.




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